I turned $50 into $1million playing the lottery - I didn't walk away with all the money but it was my choice

A LUCKY player won a $1million jackpot playing a scratch-off - but she chose to leave a big chunk of it on the table.

Claudy Charles of Homestead, Florida won the $1million prize playing the state's $50 500x THE CASH scratch-off game.

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Claudy beat 1-in-267,739 odds to snag the game's second prize.

The game requires players to match their numbers to the game's winning numbers to win the prize shown.

And special symbols can further multiply the prize.

The top prize is $25million, but all of those have already been claimed.

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While Claudy won a million dollars, he chose to take $820,000 upfront rather than receive his full prize over an annuity.

And the $820,000 prize does not count in federal taxes.

Luckily for Claudy, Florida does not have a state income tax.

There are now six remaining 500X THE CASH $1million tickets remaining.

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WINNER'S CHOICE

Like Claudy, many big lottery winners face a dilemma: get all of your money in an annuity over decades or get a lesser sum right away.

Many choose the lump sum, leaving hundreds of thousands, if not millions, with the lottery.

And for players in states that do asses an income tax, the chunk sacrificed is even bigger.

Keith Mackie also won $1million playing the Massachusetts State Lottery's new “50X Cash” game.

Yet, Keith decided to take home $650,000 as a lump sum instead.

And that amount does not even include federal or state income taxes.

Others have left nearly seven figures on the table.

Pharis Frank of North Carolina chose a reduced amount immediately instead of the annuity when he won the lottery for the second time in only three years.

Frank took a lump sum payment of $1.2million instead of $2million spread out over two decades after winning the Diamond Dazzler scratch-off.

Some winners do actually choose to receive the annuity.

Genine Plummer won New York's CASH4LIFE second prize of $1,000 a week for life.

She will get $33,852 in annual installments for the rest of her life rather than a reduced lump sum.

Always remember to only wager what you can afford.

You can also call the national gambling hotline, 1-800-GAMBLER if you need help.

One big lottery winner shared her regrets after cashing in.

Another winner only received a third of his promised eight-figure fortune.